Mark Green, is a candidate for the Alameda County Supervisor seat in District 2, photographed at the Oakland Tribune studio in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday March 31, 2010. (Laura A. Oda/Staff archives)

Just two years after voters picked a new Alameda County supervisor for District 2 they must do it again.

Last time, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer used $1.5 million of his campaign funds to buy the seat for his wife, Nadia Lockyer. She had a short, embarrassing drug- and sex-fueled tenure before resigning.

Now voters in Hayward, Newark, Union City and parts of Fremont and Sunol must select a replacement to serve the term's remaining two years. Of the four candidates, two do not merit serious consideration.

Scratch Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Castro Valley, from the list. We reject the idea of replacing a drug addict with a convicted shoplifter -- especially one who this week still refused to admit her illegal actions despite her recent conviction.

Scratch Deputy Sheriff Mark Turnquist, whose understanding of everything from public employee pensions to health care funding is not just wrong, it's divorced from reality.

That leaves two candidates with long tenures on the Union City council.

There's Mark Green, mayor for more than 19 years, and Richard Valle, the labor-backed candidate whom Alameda County supervisors appointed to temporarily fill the Lockyer seat until the election.

We endorse Green because of his diverse support, which bridges the political spectrum, and his broad regional government experience -- including the Association of Bay Area Governments, Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Alameda County Transportation Commission -- that should serve him well on the county board.

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Alameda County needs independent leaders who will put the public first. Green best meets those criteria.